Telecommuting: changing who we are

Today´s changing workplace requires “thinking outside the box”. With newer workplace concepts like telecommuting, there is no box. So, many of today´s companies are forging new paths. IDC/Link, a New York research firm, estimates that 8.1 million Americans were telecommuters in 1996. The Federal Department of Transportation estimates that telecommuters will number as many as 15 million by the year 2002. They are the fastest growing segment of home based workers. For many large companies, the obvious benefits of home based worker programs are reduced overhead, increased productivity and an improved quality of life for the employees. The authors address different corporate perspectives on telecommuting. They discuss several models of telecommuting and then present information based on their own experiences with telecommuting. Then, they hope to engage participants in a discussion of some key issues involved in telecommuting, such as: (a) pluses and pitfalls (what works, what doesn´t, who are good candidates for it); (b) equipment issues (what is needed, who provides it); (c) space issues (kitchen table vs. office with a door); (d) training (how to get it, who provides it); (e) advancement (issues and opportunities); (f) communication (e-mail, voice mail, face-to-face, meetings); (g) work allocation; (h) evaluating performance